Gérard Depardieu picks up Russian passport in Sochi, and has "private" meeting with Putin

Gérard Depardieu picks up Russian passport in Sochi, and has "private" meeting with Putin

French actor Gerard Depardieu will play the former IMF head Dominique Strauss Kahn in a new production by independent filmmaker Abel Ferrara

Actor Gérard Depardieu's decision to leave France is proceeding quickly: he picked up his Russian passport Saturday in the resort town of Sochi, and met Vladimir Putin during the same visit.

The BBC reports that Putin did not hand Depardieu the passport personally, during the course of a visit that was described as "private."

Video of the two men embracing like old pals was shown on Russia's Channel One television network on Sunday, reports the Guardian. Depardieu appears to have discussed his future career plans with Putin — which might, presumably, include a turn in Russia's native film industry.

Putin signed the decree granting Depardieu Russian citizenship on Thursday,

Why has Depardieu decided to part ways with his native country? A proposed new 75 percent tax on the rich in France, originating from new socialist president Francois Hollande is the answer — a measure that the famously cantankerous Depardieu is not exactly enthused by.

The Russians may have welcomed the celebrity with open arms, but the French have responded with wide-spread criticism of the controversial actor, wrote CNN, describing his actions as "desertion" and "pathetic" (among other, saltier phrases).